Several conflicting versions on the rounds, and fear is an effective motivator. Last I heard is that soi 5 is open for discreet business as usual, while other reports say the local boss will be firm in following the order, which is understandable since that heightens fear and increases the bahts. Other IOs without definitive guidance seem to know about as much as we do which is little to nothing, and take whatever position is most convenient.
But as I understand it this is just a draft order, and won't become law until it passes several committee stages before facing Parliament, which won't pass it since even at this level there can't be more than a handful of Thais capable of supporting measures to fuel corruption as part of an anti-corruption drive.
A naive quuestion, perhaps, but...
Why can't they think it through or have it peer-reviewed before publishing it?
The sheer incompetence of these people is an embarrassment and should be seen as a loss of face for the authors.
...and loss of faith for the suckers who depend with their life choices & savings on such idiots.
Last edited by stroller; 08-02-2019 at 07:20 PM.
If a Thai boss says the Baiyoke Tower is made of rice, his worshippers will insist it's Thai rice which is the best.
...It does little good, imo, to moan about Thai bureaucracy's non-linear thinking (A doesn't necessarily lead to B or C or D, but rather to L and F)...the cold hard fact is that retirees (and others) either jump through the various hoops or leave in search of less arbitrary regulations elsewhere...Immigration whimsy concerning its own SOPs will forever muddy the visa waters and frustrate those not possessed of Thainess...if one's status as a falang in Wonderland is unsettling, maybe it's time to move on...or go into hiding...
Majestically enthroned amid the vulgar herd
It really is a "dead" subject. It is their country, their regulations, their laws. You/I/we are visitors in their country, allowed to stay at their "whimsy" 'tis why the wording is; at the "discretion" of the IO, being granted "permission" to stay until _______ "
So Be It - can't change it, gotta comply with it. whining, moaning naught more than human nature, expats in other countries also complain about regulatory hurdles. Human nature to complain that the burden you are "forced" to bear is a much heavier load, but, that is because it is your burden.
The exit door is always open.
And, the Thai's do NOT care about the so called "huge" amounts of money we contribute to their economy. "Peanuts".
You and I are visitors in a Foreign Country - we will comply with their laws or suffer the consequences.
Bottom line is that everyone has their tolerance level regarding the requirements to stay in this country. Once that tolerance level is surpassed, it is time to find another resting spot in the world. For me, after 14 years of jumping through all the different hoops to stay in Thailand, I am approaching my tolerance level and have starting looking at alternatives. Maybe 6 months here and six months in either Belize or Panama will suit me better. I have yet to decide since the summer months here consist of the rainy season and are least likable to me. The issue is that the summer months are also rainy seasons in those two countries I mentioned. I need to think more along the lines of spending the summer months in Europe, an eastern block country or back home in the US as I have been doing for a long time but only for a few months due to the cost. No final decision yet.
Last edited by rickschoppers; 09-02-2019 at 04:06 PM.
^ Exactamundo. Its really that simple. The endless whinging fixes and changes nothing.
I agree wholeheartedly RC. I think some create their own angst by diving to deep into the system or lack there of and then it just consumes them to the point that they have had enough. For me, most of this is noise. Sure there have been numerous changes since I was first coming here back in '05 but I realized it would change. Of course I agree that their implementation of things is not as sound as I would like it but to your point, you establish what is needed in your area and forget about what can be done or is being done elsewhere.
The withdrawal of the combination method for singleton retirees on hitherto adequate budgets who have complied with the laws for the past 20 years will be in some difficulty and one assumes they will either have to capitalise an asset back in their own country or here, but if they have none then it will be a return home.
To force this on folk on a mere two months notice is really nothing short of disgraceful, even for the Thai.
I think if pushed to nail their worst fault, one of the many, I think I'd have to say it's their hypocrisy - all that fucking land of smiles and wai-ing shit but really a bunch of greedy, thoughtless, inconsiderate, selfish fuckers sort of thing.
...^so, which airline has the cheapest one-way flight to frozen hell then?...
and who pray-tell told you they were discontinuing the combination method? It's still in effect. It wasn't mentioned in this police order because that only mentioned things that had CHANGED.. Seeing as the combination method did not change it was not mentioned.
If you're from one of the 4 consulates that stopped issuing the affidavit of income from abroad notary letters you transfer in every month from abroad into your thai bank account for 12 months AND then you have banked in your thai bank account the difference that makes up 800K baht and that banked money must meet the seasoning requirement.
It's still an option it's just harder to use because of the consulates stopping the affidavit of income notary letters making people show 12 months of incoming transfers instead
get the fuck out of Thailand, you won't regret it
why are farangs so brainwashed like the locals after a few years of staying there?
life is much better and much simpler in Europe, and Spain is cheap and only 2 hours away (pre-Brexit) from the UK
I think for some, they cannot and this is why they are so wound up about it. Others that have options this is not a big deal. Just a different process to stay.
I agree Thailand is not nirvana nor paradise but the ones that never saw it that way are now getting this cold slap in the face. To many of us from highly governed western countries, this is just another law that is on the books.
Last edited by OhOh; 09-02-2019 at 08:19 PM.
Change is the only thing you can count on - things will change.
The latest uhm... "problems" being presented to eliminate the so called sleigh of hands concerning the "lump sum money" and visa brokers "tricking" the Thai IO's will be in effect and in force shortly. But... I am certain, the workarounds by the visa brokers are already being engineered. Probably more difficult and probably more expensive. So Be It. Am certainly glad (and fortunate) the changes do not and will not affect me, other than the possible "additional" trip to the IO Office. Can't change it and, of course, accept it.
If I intend to stay in Thailand (with the many, many, many fleas on this dog) which I do - I will comply with whatever they require. So Be It.
Expect changes, always have and always will.
I have only 1 issue,that is if it is passed by cabinet,is the mandatory ins.scam,i have a history of surgery,health problems,and probably other ailments,besides my ext.money that has never been touched,i have got about 500k.cash,and plenty of other in the way of fixed accs.which are in my wife's name only..now my concern is,ins.company's that insist that I must take out a policy with them.any where in the uk.wouldnt touch me with a never ending barge pole,but T.I.T.and I don't like being scammed by anyone who thinks I am easy prey.WHAT DO I DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.if imm.insist I take out policy with a THAI.INS.CO. that could cost the price of a million bht.even then there would be the exclusions that start at the top of the head and end at my feet.I.O. say,s no ins.NO EXTENSION.
my thoughts are do I become a MONK and live at the TEMPLE. or join my beloved dog who was more or less treated in the same way [corrupt vets] for 3yrs.before he passed away.
HH.MARRIED OVER 30YRS.to a wife who I love very much.
If I intend to stay in Thailand (with the many, many, many fleas on this dog) which I do - I will comply with whatever they require. So Be It.
Expect changes, always have and always will.[/QUOTE]
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